The objective of subproject C3 is a better design of user-producer-interactions in PSS innovation processes. The overarching topic is the co-evolution of user and producer competence for Open Innovation. By mutual learning processes with users, PSS producers can improve the management and design of external users’ input cycles. Subproject C3 analyses how users and producers mutually empower themselves to innovative activities and reciprocal learning. In specific, the project investigates capabilities of innovative users as well as employees at company boundaries. These capabilities are essential for a successful shared development of innovative ideas. Subproject C3 explores possibilities for a better design of user-producer interactions. By focusing not only on cycles of external user inputs but also on mutual learning, concrete levers for practice are identified. Thereby PSS providers are enabled to pro-actively design external cycles, such as radical changes in customer preferences.

• Modelling of user-producer interactions as bidirectional flows of information    
  • Development and empirical validation of successful user-producer interactions model: Exploration of effective parameters of user-producer interactions and their impact on successful interaction in user-vendor relationships         
• Modelling of flows of information from users to producers
  • Definition of user knowledge and its relevance for PSS-innovation processes    
  • User knowledge of particular relevance in the early development and late use phases of the PSS-innovation process as well as for the development of services    
  • Successful utilization of user knowledge depends on absorptive capacity and coordination mechanisms of actors         
• Modelling of information flows from producers to users   
  • PSS providers lead users through targeted feedback and influence them in innovation and purchase decisions

• Understanding of relevant skills of innovative users and employees at the enterprise edge, who are essential for successful shared development of innovative ideas. 
• Exploration of mutual learning paths and dependencies.    
  • Opportunities for optimal design of user-producer interaction         
• Development of concrete levers to enable PSS providers for pro-actively designing external cycles

• Gambardella, A., Raasch, C., von Hippel, E. A.: The User Innovation Paradigm: Impacts on Markets and Welfare. In: Management Science, 2015.
• Hagenmaier, M., Preißner, S., Raasch, C., Zaggl, M.: Die Integration des Kunden in den Innovationsprozess – Eine Untersuchung zu Mass Customization von Produkt-Service Systemen. In: Vogel- Heuser, B., Lindemann, U., Reinhart, G. (Hrsg.): Innovationsprozesse zyklenorientiert managen – Verzahnte Entwicklung von Produkt-Service Systemen. Berlin, Heidelberg: Springer, 2014.
• de Jong, J.P.J.; von Hippel, E.; Gault, F.; Kuusisto, J.; Raasch, C.: Market failure in the diffusion of consumer-developed innovations: Patterns in Finland. In: Research Policy, 2015
• Schmidt, D.M., Preißner, S., Hermosillo-Martínez, J.A.; Quiter, M., Mörtl, M., Raasch, C.: Integration of user knowledge across the lifecycle of integrated product-service systems – An empirical analysis of the relevance for PSS development and management. In: International Conference on Engineering Design, 2015, Mailand (Italien).